Entries in Bristol Plastics
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The editor suggested the title of this article as a tag line for Lotus Cars while serving as their U.S. Communications Director for good reason. No other phrase better encapsulates the ethos of the brand Colin Chapman created, not even the trite, overused “add lightness” mantra attributed to Chapman himself. Weight savings is an important, but not all-encompassing, component of the Lotus design philosophy, and the Lotus Type 14 — known commercially as the Elite — is the perfect embodiment of the corporate dictum.

In an age when complex hybrid power plants, a plethora of electronic gizmos, and more scoops than an ice cream parlor define performance, the Elite’s spare, understated elegance stands out. Encounter one on the street and you’re immediately struck by how small it is. A mere 148 in. long with an 88.3 in. wheelbase, the entire car will fit between the axles of some Ford pickups. Two Elites weigh less than a single modern Porsche 911, and it stands a mere 46.5 in. tall. Yet the Elite appears much larger in photos, with a purposeful elegance that’s pleasing to the eye. Design cues created by accountant and rabid car guy Peter Kirwan-Taylor (with help from aerodynamicist Frank Costin, who smoothed the car’s Cd to a still incredible 0.29) carried throughout the Lotus range for decades, most notably the frontal view incorporating a low, mouth-shaped air intake that endured all the way through to the first generation Evora before Danny Bahar tossed the traditional — and distinctive — smiling visage. Apparently, modern sports car pilots want the driver ahead to shriek in horror when confronted by the snarling beast in their rear-view mirror.